Jamie’s Stat Preview: Tottenham vs QPR

Sunday will see Tottenham attempt to increase their unbeaten Premier League record to seven games against QPR, a team still on a high following their victory over West London neighbours Chelsea last weekend.

Spurs and QPR haven’t matched up in the Premiership since the Hoops’ relegation in 1995/96 and it is pretty difficult to split the two teams during the first four years of the Premiership.

Both sides can lay claim to three wins apiece, two at home and one away, and have shared the spoils on two occasions, once at Loftus Road and once at White Hart Lane. Spurs, however, have won the two most recent games and are unbeaten in three, but that most recent game was in September 1995.

QPR have outscored the Lilywhites, claiming 14 goals to Tottenham’s 12. Goals in games between this pair have come at an average of 3.25 per game and only once has a team failed to score- that dubious honour going to QPR as they lost 1-0 to Spurs at White Hart Lane.

The first season in 1992/93 promised much excitement in games between this duo, five goals being scored in each game. Tottenham won the first Premier League bout, 3-2 at White Hart Lane thanks to goals from Teddy Sheringham and Darren Anderton. The West London club got its revenge, however, as they overturned the Lilywhites 4-1 at Loftus Road, a game that included goals by managerial stalwarts Ian Holloway and Ray Wilkins.

Sheringham also scored in that game, an act which was to become quite a theme in these games. Sheringham has scored eight Premier League goals against the Hoops and has scored in six of the eight games between the clubs. Les Ferdinand is QPR’s top scorer against Tottenham, netting three against his future employers.

Finally, it might be wise for Friedel, Kaboul and King (fingers crossed) to keep their focus right until the final whistle. Ten of QPR’s 14 goals have come in the second half and five of those have come in the final fifteen minutes.

By Jamie Frier

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